Latch



July 3, 1956 G. E. CURTISS, JR., ET A1. 2,753,294

1N VEN TURD` GEORGE E. CURT/SJR.

BY KENNETH M. JOHNSON www;

ATTORNEYS July 3, 1956 G. E. CURTISS, JR., ET A1. 2,753,204

LATCH Filed Aug. 24, 1953 2 SheetS-Shee; 2

INVENTORS GEORG/5 E. wwf/5.5, JR. /f BY KENNETH M. JOHNSON United States Patent O LATCH George E. Curtiss, Jr., and Kenneth M. Johnson, New Britain, Conn., assignors to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 24, 1953, Serial No. 376,044

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-332) This invention relates to latches and pertains more particularly to latches especially suited for refrigerators, freezers, and the like.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a latch of the type referred to which will exert a strong sealing or closing action, which will be operable over a long draw-in period, which will effectively prevent the door from being burst open, which will not uncock or latch unless the keeper is inserted for engagement with the bolt, and which will not release the keeper unless the bolt is returned to cocked position.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a latch having the advantages referred to above which is of simple and compact arrangement such that it may be easily and economically fabricated and assembled and yet of suiciently durable and rugged construction so that it will have great strength and provide trouble-free service over long periods of use even under adverse conditions.

An additional aim of the invention is to provide such a latch which is streamlined and, if such installation is preferred, which is readily attachable to the exterior of a door instead of being housed interiorly of the door.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the'scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the latch mechanism in which the general features of the present invention are illustrated, the frame of the latch mechanism being in cross section and the latch being depicted in combination with a refrigerator door and cabinet which are shown in fragmentary cross-sectional view;

Figure 2 is a side View of the latch mechanism per se, this view picturing the bolt in a closed or keeper engaging position;

Figure 3 is a View somewhat similar to Figure 2, but with one side panel removed and the bolt shown in an unlatched or open keeper releasing position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a side view of the keeper assembly.

While the latch forming the subject matter of the instant invention is susceptible to a variety of uses, for the sake of ilustration, it has been shown in combination with a refrigerator door and a refrigerator cabinet 12. As is conventional in refrigerator doors, the door 10 includes inner and outer walls 14 and 16. To seal properly the interior of the cabinet 12, there is provided along the peripheral edge thereof a seal or gasket 1S.

The latch mechanism has been designated generally by the reference numeral and includes a frame or housing 22 comprised of a rst side plate 24 generally rectangular in outline provided with a top flange 21, bottom flange 23 and front flange 25, anda second side plate ICC 26 provided with a top flange 27 and bottom flange 28 adapted to telescope over the flanges 21 and 23. The side plates 24 and 26 are connected together by suitable ears and notches indicated generally at 31 to form a rigid unitary structure when the latch is assembled. The side plate 24 is bulged outwardly at 33 and the side plate 26 has an irregular bulging portion 29 in order to accommodate some of the latch parts subsequently to be referred to. Also, for a purpose to be made clearer later, the side plates 24 and 26 are notched at 30 for the general purpose of accommodating a keeper when the door is closed while cooperating to guide the hereinafter referred to keeper is a pair of doweling rollers 32 which form both bearing and guiding surfaces. When the latch is to be mounted on the exterior of the door as shown in the drawings, an escutcheon plate 33 preferably is secured to the side plate 26 in order to enhance the appearance.

Pivotally supported within the housing or frame 22 is a bolt 34, the bolt being mounted on a pivot pin 36 which permits rotation of said bolt and which is disposed in alignment with the notches 30. The bolt 34 is generally C-shaped and includes an arcuate nger or wedge 38 forming a latching portion and also includes a thumb portion 40 carrying a lobe or promontory 41 thereon. At 42, there is disposed a shoulder which is receivable in a slot 44 provided in the bottom wall 28 of the frame 22, the slot forming a stop or abutment 46 which limits the counterclockwise rotative movement of the bolt in its open or unlatching position. For a purpose that will be made manifest hereinafter, a spring 48 encircles the pivot pin 36, such spring biasing the bolt in a counterclockwise direction and which rotative movement is limited by the abovealluded to stop 46. One end of the spring 48 is bent `around the lower edge of the bolt while the other end engages against the top of the bulge portion 29 provided in the side wall 26.

Associated with the bolt 34 is an actuating bell crank designated by the numeral Sib, the bell crank being rotatively mounted with respect to the frame or housing 22 by means of a pivot pin S2. One arm 58 of the bell crank 5t) is connected to a projection 39 on the bolt 34 by a pair of connecting links 6), the links 6i) being pivotally connected to the projection 39 by a pivot pin 62 and being pivotally connected to the arm SS by a pivot pin 64.

The other arm .'54 of the bell crank is adapted to receive the thrust of a main compression spring 66 which extends over a spring guide 68 which, for simplicity, is a twisted piece of flat stock notched at 69 to interengage with the hook portion 55 of the arm 54. The end of the spring 66 engages against a shoulder 7i) on the guide. The other end of the compression spring 66 is positioned on a retaining bracket 72 having oppositely extending ears 74 forming a seat for the spring. The retaining bracket 72 is carried by the housing or frame 22 owing to the provision of a slot 78 in the inner wall 24 of the frame and a notch 80 in the outer wall 26 of the frame.

Secured to the outer wall 16 of the refrigerator door 1t) is a handle mount designated generally by the reference numeral 82, the handle mount being operatively positioned with respect to the housing or frame 2.2. In the specific embodiment a handle 84 is pivotally mounted on a handle base 86 secured in fixed relation, as by welding, to a portion of the housing or frame 22. The handle base 86 performs the otiice of a standard for a pivot pin 83 which permits rotation of the handle 84 toward and away from the outer panel or wall 16 of the door 10. Biasing the handle 84 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure l, is a spring 90. This biasing action is, of course, readily overcome by a manual pull exerted against a handle grip 92 forming an integral part of said handle 84. Also provided on the handle 84 is a nose 94 which is instrumental in supporting or carrying a bearing stud `96 which is positioned at the proper elevation so that it can bear against the anvil 56 on the arm 54 of the bell crank 50. l Y

If desired, a lock assembly 160 may be incorporated into the handle mount 32, Vsuch lock assembly being pictured'in phantom outline and including a locking cam lit?. which may be turned by a suitable key'to engage a dog member 103 disposed on the handle base 86. ln the illustrated position, itwill be observed that the locking cam 102 has been rotated soy that it abuts against the dog 193 to preciude rotative movement ofthe handle 513/2 in a direc-- tion to open the latching mechanism.

From the foregoing description it will readily be discerned that the latching mechanism 20, by virtue of the frame or housing 22, is a unitary structure and, since the handle mount vis xedly positioned on the trame or housing 22, the entireassemblage may be mounted or attached in a facile'manne'r to the exterior of the door 10, shown in the drawings. To this end, mounting screws litri are utilized in attaching the entire latching assemblage to the door *10, as will be seen from an inspection of Figure l.

Illustrated in Figure 5 is a keeper assembly indicated Iby the reference numeral 1%, the assembly comprising a pair of elongated plates 103 in a side-by-side relation and diverging apart at one end to receive therebetween a roller 110. The other end of one of the plates 108 is serrated at 112. In order to adjustably mount the plates 163, a pair of slots is incorporated therethrough for accommodating a pair of screws 116 which extend into an anchor plate 118. The anchor plate 118 `carries serrations l2() which engage the serrations 112. Also, it is to be noted that a plurality of elongated slots 122 is provided in the anchor plate 118 so that, by reason of a similar number of mounting screws, the entire keeper or strike assembly 106 may be adjustably secured to the refrigerator cabinet V12 as shown in Figure l.

lfrom the foregoing description taken in connection with the following explanation. Assuming that the mechanism is in cocked position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the bolt 34 is rotated to the fullest extent possible in a counterclockwise direction as permitted by the abutment of the shoulder 42 against the edge of the slot' 46. It will be observed that in this position the main actuating spring 66 is in its most compressed condition and applies a strong torce against the bell crank 5h, tending to rotate the bell` crank Si) in a counterclockwise direction. The bell crank 5t), being connected to the bolt 34 by means of the links ou, operates to rotate the bolt 34 in a counterclockwise direction because the pivot pin 62 is to the upper left ot the center line extending between the pivots 36 and dt. Hence, the mechanism remains in the cocked condition shown. The latch cannot be uncocked by operating the handle 34 because the action of the handle 84 upon the bell crank 5t) would tend to rotate the bell crank 5d in a clockwise direction which, of course, would be ineffective to cause clockwise movement of the bolt from the cocked position.

With the mechanism in the cocked position shown in Figure 3, the linger or wedge portion 38 ot the bolt is disposed away from the entranceway provided by the notches and the thumb portion 34 extends diagonally into the passageway. lt will be noted that the diagonal face 35 of the thumb portion 34 thus presents a cam surface facing the keeper. When the door is moved toward closed position, the lirst action which takes place is the reception of the the keeper 106, and particularly the roller 110 thereof, in the entranceway provided by the notches 30. As will be understood, the latch and keeper are installed so that the keeper will be in approximate alignment with the entranceway 30. However, it there should be any misalignment, and this would be likely to occur in the event that the door sags, the keeper will be guided into the entranceway by engagement with one ofthe rollers 32, thus exerting monitoring action upon the alignment of the door and assuring that the keeper will be properly'positioned Within the latch.

As soon as the roller 1'10 abuts the cam surface 35 during closing movement of the door, it will exert a camming action on the bolt 34 which will rotate it in a clockwise direction sufficiently to move the pivot 62 past the center line between the pivots 36 and 64, this movement being permitted by a slight backing up of the bell crank 50. Immediately upon the movement of the pivot o2 past the center line between the pivots 36 and 64, the bell crank 5t) is free to pivot counterclockwise and rapidly thrust the bolt to the latched position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings under the strong iniiuence of the main spring 66.

As will be appreciated, when the keeper is inserted into the latch for a sufficient distance to uncock the latch, it will have passed beyond the point of the finger portion 38 and this finger portion 38 will move behind the roller 119 and eiectively prevent withdrawal of the keeper such as by rebound of the door. The iinger portion 3S of the bolt is provided with an internal camming surface 37 which is so designed that it is a decreasing distance from the pivot 3o, the farthest distance being at the point and the closest distance being at the base. The result is that the iinger 38 vacts asa wedge and exerts a predetermined draw-in force upon the keeper in accordance with the design thereof, taking into account the force exerted by the main spring o6. As will be appreciated, this drawin force can be predetermined to give a substantially constant or uniform eiiect throughout the entire draw-in period or to give a peaking eliect at any particular stage of the draw-in, for example, at the nal closing movement of the door, which is frequently desired. Also, it will be appreciated that, by reason of the design of the vbolt 34, a relatively long draw-in period may be effected,

thus assuring that the latch will come into effective operation well before the door is fully closed.

As the bolt moves into fully latched position, the toggle presented by the arm 58 of the bell crank and the links 60 will tend to straighten out as shown in Figure 2, thus assuring that 4a maximum force will be applied to the bolt in a clockwise direction even though the spring at this stage is in its most extended position. Also, because of the straightening of this toggle and the fact that the pivot 36 is in substantial alignment with the keeper, it becomes impossible to burst open the door merely by exerting a pulling force on the door.

When it is desired to open the door, it will be realized that all that it is necessary for the operator to do is to pull outwardly on the handle 84 which immediately places pressure against the .bell crank 50, returning it to the cocked position against the bias of spring 66. Once the bell crank is in cocked position, the auxiliary spring 48 will, of course, move the bolt the additional distance required to 'hold the mechanism in cocked position. The pull on the handle 84 by' the operator will, of course, also tend to open the door so that the keeper will be withdrawn from the latch. The keeper will not be fully released, however, until the latch has been moved to fully cocked position due to the inherent design of the bolt.

It thus will be appreciated that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a latch of simple design, comprising a minimum of-parts of easily fabricated form, which has many operatingadvantages, which is foolproof 'in operation, and which, in particular, will exert a strong latching action insuring tight closing of the door and preventing the door from being burst open.

As many changes could be madein the above construci tion and many apparently widely different embodiments ot this `invention could be made `without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsfshall vl; e'interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It Vis also to be understood'that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said fall therebetween.

We claim:

1, A latch mechanism comprising a frame, a ft-shaped bolt, a pivot for the bolt supporting the bolt for rotative movement between open and closed positions, actuating lever, a pivot for the actuating lever having an axis parallel to that of the first-named pivot, means exerting a first bias on the bolt tending to rotate the bolt toward open position, means exerting a bias on the actuating lever in the same rotative direction as the bolt is biased but exerting a greater force than said rst bias, a link, a pair of pivots having an axis parallel to the firstnamed pivots connecting the link between the bolt and actuating lever, said link being longer than the minimum distance between the last-named pair of pivots when said pair of pivots is aligned with the pivot for the bolt, and means for rotating the actuating lever to align the said pair of pivots with the bolt pivot.

2. A latch mechanism comprising a frame, a C-shaped bolt, a first pivot pin supported by said frame mounting the bolt for rotative movement between open and closed positions, means biasing said bolt in a rotative direction towards open position, an actuating lever, a second pivot pin supported by said frame mounting the actuating lever for rotative movement, means biasing the actuating lever in the same relative direction that said bolt is biased, an idler link, a third pivot pin articulatively connecting said idler link to said bolt, and a fourth pivot pin articulatively connecting said idler link to said actuating lever, whereby the biasing means for said actuating lever will retain the bolt in either an open or closed position depending upon which side of dead center said third pivot pin is shifted with respect to said first and fourth pivot pins.

3. A latch mechanism comprising a frame, a C-shaped bolt, a first pivot pin supported by said frame mounting the bolt for rotative movement between open and closed positions, driving means biasing said bolt in a rotative direction towards open position, an L-shaped actuating lever provided with first and second arms, a second pivot pin supported by said frame mounting the actuating lever for rotative movement, a compression spring disposed between a portion of said frame and said first arm biasing said actuating lever in the same relative direction that said bolt is biased, an idler link, a third pivot pin articulatively connecting one end of said idler link to said bolt, a fourth pivot pin articulatively connecting the other end of said idler link to said second arm, and a pivotal handle member engageable with said first arm to overcome the bias of said compression spring to rotate said actuating lever until said first, third and fourth pivot pins are in a dead-center relationship, said bolt spring means acting to carry said third pivot pin past dead center to maintain said bolt in its open position.

4, A latch mechanism comprising a frame, a C-shaped bolt including a wedge finger engageable with a keeper in closed position of said bolt and an ejector thumb engageable with the keeper as the bolt is moved from closed position toward open position, said thumb carrying a lobe intermediate its free end and its attached end, spring means biasing said bolt in a rotative direction towards open position, an L-shaped actuating lever provided with first and second arms, a second pivot pin supported by said frame mounting the actuating lever for rotative movement, a compression spring disposed between a portion of said frame and said iirst arm biasing said actuating lever in the same relative direction that said bolt is biased, an idler link, a third pivot pin articulatively connecting one end of said idler link to said bolt, a fourth pivot pin articulatively connecting the other end of said idler link to said second arm, and a pivotal handle member engageable with said first arm to overcome the bias of said compression spring to rotate said actuating lever until said first, third and fourth pivot pins are in a dead-center relationship, said bolt spring means acting to carry said third pivot pin past dead center to maintain said bolt in its open position, and said lobe acting when engaged by the keeper during a door closing operation to cam said bolt in a rotative direction to move said third pivot pin past said dead center in an opposite direction so that said compression spring will move the bolt to said closed position.

5. A latch mechanism comprising a frame having a guideway for receiving a transversely extending keeper, a C-shaped bolt, means in approximate alignment with the guideway pivotally supporting the bolt. in the frame for pivoting movement in a plane at right angles to the keeper, one end of the bolt being arranged to engage against the forward surface of the keeper as the door is closed to initiate pivoting movement of the bolt to latching position and the other end of said bolt being arranged to project endwise behind the keeper when the bolt is pivoted into latching position, a spring biasing the bolt away `from latching position, an actuating lever pivotally mounted behind the bolt for pivoting movement in the same general plane, a link pivotally connected to one end of the lever and to the bolt at a locus at one side of the bolt pivot opposite from said other end of the bolt, said link being of greater length than the minimum distance from said locus to the said one end of the lever when the bolt is in open position, and a relatively heavy spring biasing the actuating lever toward unlatching position.

6. A latch mechanism comprising a frame, a bolt, bolt supporting means pivotally supporting the bolt in the frame for rotative movement between an open and a closed position, an actuating lever, means pivotally supporting the actuating lever in the frame for rotative movement on an axis parallel to that of the bolt, a link having a pivotal connection with the bolt and a pivotal connection with the actuating lever and being of a greater length than the minimum distance between the pivotal connections, said pivotal connection with the bolt being movable through dead center alignment with the said pivotal connection with the actuating lever and the said bolt supporting means as the bolt is moved from a closed to an open position, means biasing the actuating lever in a direction corresponding to closing movement of the bolt, and means to selectively rotate the bolt to said open position including means for rotating the actuating lever in opposition to its bias.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,467 Leonard et al lune 11, 1918 2,138,251 Lindstrom' et al Nov. 29, 1938 2,249,644 Anderson July 15, 1941 2,655,395 Groeger Oct. 13, 1953 2,662,790 Hogg Dec. 15, 1953 

